Effective

• The FDA has approved the first-of-its-kind mRNA-based flu vaccine specifically for adults aged 50 and older. • This approval follows a severe 2024-25 flu season, which the CDC estimates resulted in approximately 45,000 deaths. • The shift to mRNA technology is significant as it offers the potential for more effective, rapidly adaptable vaccines compared to traditional methods.

Proposal would water down emissions trading system to make EU more competitive – despite extreme heatwavesEurope’s most effective method of cutting dangerous planet-heating gases risks being weakened after the European Commission proposed an overhaul of its flagship carbon market, critics have said.In a long-awaited review of the European Union Emissions Trading System (ETS), the European Commission proposed giving companies a less demanding and cheaper pathway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Continue reading...

• Leading researchers are warning that a recent FDA policy shift may lead to the approval of ineffective medicines. • In February, the FDA announced that drug sponsors could seek approval based on a single clinical trial and confirmatory evidence, departing from a 1960s-era requirement for two clinical studies. • This change is concerning to experts because it may allow drugs with conflicting trial data to enter the market, potentially compromising patient safety and efficacy.

• The article examines whether the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) can transition from electoral success to effective governance, drawing on the political history of the region. • It contrasts the legacy of the previous administration, which is credited with strong GDP growth, expanded electricity access, and digital governance, against criticisms of weakened press freedom and institutional independence. • The analysis highlights the tension between prioritizing economic stability and infrastructure development versus maintaining political pluralism and democratic norms.

• Dr. Daniel Pilch of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and co-founder of TAXIS Pharmaceuticals has detailed the effectiveness of a new drug, TXA079, designed to combat MRSA. • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is highlighted as a critical danger due to its resistance to common antibiotics, making it difficult to treat. • The drug's development is significant because the CDC identifies MRSA as one of the top five major public health threats both in the United States and globally.

Researchers testing a cheap, homegrown oil in Uganda found what cats knew all along – it worked as well as the artificial chemical used globally A homegrown catnip lotion has proven “just as effective as Deet” as a mosquito repellant in trials carried out in Uganda.Catnip, or Nepeta cataria, is a common herb from the mint family. The chemical in the plant that causes feline euphoria – nepetalactone – also has insect-repelling properties but this has not previously been commercialised. Continue reading...

• A comprehensive review published in The Lancet reaffirms that approved mRNA vaccines are safe and highly effective across diverse populations, including children and immunocompromised patients. • Led by researchers from the University of British Columbia and Imperial College London, the study analyzed data from billions of doses, combining clinical trials with real-world surveillance. • The findings confirm that these vaccines significantly reduce documented SARS-CoV-2 infections, hospitalizations, and mortality within 14 to 42 days post-vaccination.

• The PARTNERS clinical trial has officially opened patient enrolment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to identify the first effective treatments for Bundibugyo virus (BVD). • This international effort focuses on evaluating potential therapies for Ebola disease specifically caused by the BVD strain, utilizing facilities like the ALIMA Ebola Treatment Centre. • The trial is critical because it addresses a specific gap in medical countermeasures for a dangerous virus that causes severe hemorrhagic fever.

• A new review published in The Lancet on Tuesday confirms that mRNA vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are safe and effective. • Led by Manish Sadarangani of B.C. Children's Hospital, researchers analyzed laboratory data, clinical trials, and real-world surveillance from January 2020 through December 2025. • The findings are significant because they validate the scientific and public health impact of mRNA technology during the pandemic.

CMA says developers should be able to steer users away from app stores for payments to increase competitionBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK’s competition watchdog is challenging Apple and Google’s “effective duopoly” over mobile platforms by allowing developers to steer users away from their app stores to make purchases.The Competition and Markets Authority argues that consumers and app owners are being let down by Apple and Google restrictions on spending money outside their app stores. Continue reading...

• China’s Zhipu AI has released GLM-5.2, a cost-effective coding model designed to challenge global leaders in artificial intelligence. • The model marks a significant milestone as the first Chinese release to rank in the top three globally on a major industry benchmark. • This achievement is being described as a new "DeepSeek moment," signaling China's growing ability to produce high-performance models with lower computational costs.

• Mike Bloomberg has called for a shift in Washington's leadership, emphasizing the need for "fresh ideas" and a focus on effectiveness. • He highlighted the importance of assembling results-oriented teams to address governance challenges and drive meaningful progress. • This push for innovation suggests a critique of current political stagnation and a desire for a more pragmatic, data-driven approach to policy.

Government-funded JobsPlus trial in 10 neighbourhoods could be scalable nationwide, evaluation showsWe would like to hear from young people in the UK about their job-hunting experiencesA government-funded pilot of “hyperlocal” job support in 10 neighbourhoods across England has shown “promising early signs of effectiveness”, including for young people, and could be scalable nationwide, a new evaluation has shown.The JobsPlus scheme, backed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Youth Futures Foundation, an independent non-profit organisation, focuses intensive support in a small area of predominantly social housing. Echoing a similar, long-established scheme in the US, “community champions” at each site help to engage hard-to-reach people in the local area. Continue reading...

Participants who got single dose of psilocybin were more likely to abstain from cocaine than those who got placeboResults from a new clinical trial show that a single dose of psilocybin could be an effective treatment for cocaine addiction.The study, published in Jama Network Open this month, showed that 19 participants who received a single dose of psilocybin were more likely to abstain from cocaine than 17 participants who received a placebo of diphenhydramine, a common antihistamine. Continue reading...

Iran’s goal is to maintain chokehold on global economy even as some say it could run out of oil storage by SundayMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump’s indefinite shelving of the plan to bomb Iran’s bridges and power station on Tuesday night is being widely described as leaving the conflict in limbo, but that is anything but the truth.Pakistan insists the prospect of talks in Islamabad has not evaporated, and positive messages are still being exchanged, but in the meantime the site of kinetic activity has switched from land to sea. Both sides are vying to prove they can enforce their blockade of the strait of Hormuz more effectively than the other. It has become a form of gunboat diplomacy brought to life in the most significant geopolitical waterway in the world. Continue reading...

• The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation announced rescission of its Statement of Policy on Qualifications for Failed Bank Acquisitions, effective March 23, 2026. • The move simplifies regulatory approach to bank resolutions amid ongoing financial policy adjustments under the Trump administration.

• A Phase 2 clinical trial led by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center demonstrated that engineered CAR-T cells targeting mesothelin showed a 52% overall response rate in 89 patients with advanced pancreatic and ovarian cancers. • The trial, results published March 19 in Cancer Cell, showed durable responses lasting over one year in 68% of responding patients, compared to historical response rates below 20% with conventional chemotherapy. • CAR-T therapy has revolutionized blood cancer treatment but remained ineffective against solid tumors until recent engineering advances, potentially opening a new therapeutic avenue for 400,000 Americans diagnosed with pancreatic and ovarian cancers annually.

• The EPA issued a final rule on February 27, 2026, adding sodium perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS-Na) to the list of chemicals subject to toxic chemical release reporting under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. • The rule implements a mandate from the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 and requires reporting for chemicals subject to the Pollution Prevention Act beginning with reporting year 2026. • The final rule becomes effective March 30, 2026, and the EPA determined notice-and-comment rulemaking was unnecessary as the action conforms regulations to Congressional legislative mandate.

International researchers find ‘very little evidence’ medical form of the drug can treat anxiety, anorexia and other disordersCannabis is not an effective treatment for common mental health conditions despite the global surge in patients using it for that purpose, a review has found.Researchers concluded there was “very little evidence for its efficacy” in treating anxiety, anorexia nervosa, psychotic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder or opioid use disorder. Continue reading...

The 2025-2026 flu season is concluding with one of the lowest vaccine effectiveness rates in more than a decade, with the CDC reporting effectiveness of approximately 25-30% in preventing adults from needing medical care, according to data released Friday. A viral mismatch between the vaccine strain and dominant H3N2 variant that emerged early winter caused the poor performance, with vaccination proving more protective in children at around 40% effectiveness against medical visits. Despite low effectiveness, the CDC estimates 27 million illnesses, 350,000 hospitalizations, and 22,000 deaths from flu this season—substantially lower than the prior year's 40 million illnesses and 520,000 hospitalizations at the same point.

CDC interim analysis from September 2025 to February 2026 shows this season's flu vaccine effectiveness at 22-34% against outpatient visits for adults and 30-41% for those 65+, with hospitalization protection at 30-31%, due to H3N2 strain mismatch. The season saw 27 million illnesses, 350,000 hospitalizations, and 22,000 deaths, lower than last year's peaks but with 101 child deaths, 85% unvaccinated. Despite flaws, experts like Dr. William Schaffner stress shots prevent severe outcomes, with adult rates at 46.5%. Vaccination campaigns will target improved strains for next season.

CDC studies from September 2025 to February 2026 estimate flu vaccine effectiveness (VE) at 22-34% against influenza A/B outpatient visits for adults and 30-41% for those 65+, with 30-31% against hospitalizations. Patrick Maloney, PhD, from CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, led the analysis. Low VE underscores need for improved formulations amid slumping protection. Findings inform next season's vaccine development.